Chatham County residents approved the first 1 percent sales tax for capital improvement projects on June 11, 1985. Since then, voters have extended the special purpose local option sales tax six times to pay for roads, drainage improvements, cultural centers and recreational facilities.

On Tuesday, voters will again determine whether the tax continues.

County and city leaders estimate the six-year tax would raise at least $370 million. The funds would go toward the completion of new projects, as well as previously approved ones that need additional funding.

The most expensive project would be a new arena to replace the downtown Savannah Civic Center. The city has requested $105 million for the project. Up to an additional $15 million would be reserved for the project if the revenue tops $385 million. That money would be used in conjunction with about $20 million the city has budgeted from the current taxing period.

The arena’s planned location on the city’s westside north of Gwinnett Street and east of Stiles Avenue has drawn mixed reactions. Neighborhood leaders have supported the plan in the past as a way to revitalize the area, but some residents criticized the idea during a recent town hall meeting hosted by Alderman Van Johnson.

Chester Ellis, president of the Carver Village Neighborhood Association, said he remains supportive of the arena being built next to the community.

“We are looking forward to the site being there,” Ellis said. “We hope the vote is positive.”

However, the Cloverdale Neighborhood Association is not ready to commit its support for the new arena site, said president Victor Cooper. Studies should have been conducted prior to the tax referendum showing what impact the project would have on traffic and drainage in the area, Cooper said.

Since the current tax period runs through Sept. 30, 2014, there is still time to collect that information, he said.

“They can come back in November (2014) and have the full support,” he said. “We can’t just go out and support this blindly.”

Some residents do not support a new arena at all, noting that the current facility does not make enough revenue to cover its costs. A new facility would also have to be subsidized with general tax revenue, they argue.

Plenty of other projects on the city’s list of projects also would receive funding if voters support the tax extension. An additional $90 million is reserved for other city projects.

Almost $12.1 million would go toward public safety, with another $5 million for a police headquarters if revenue exceeds $400 million. Another $17.8 million would be directed to roads and $27.7 million would go toward drainage improvements. About $27.5 million has been designated for “other” projects such as neighborhood centers and a children’s museum.

Supporters of the tax, such as the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, say almost 40 percent of the revenue comes from commuters, tourists and others who live outside Chatham County.

Opponents have questioned the need for some projects, saying they are unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer dollars, no matter where the revenue comes from.

When the tax first was approved almost three decades ago, projects included road and infrastructure improvements. Drainage, recreational and cultural projects were added later.

While there have been delays, the expanded scope has led to the completion of such projects such as the reconstruction of Ellis Square and the outdoor stage at Forsyth Park.

Resident sentiment is hard to read until after the vote, but opposition has been voiced at some meetings, through letters to the editor and online through social media and news sites.

One anti-SPLOST group, Reclaim Savannah, had accumulated 880 “Likes” as of Oct. 30 on its Facebook page in less than a month. Reclaim Savannah contributor Nick Doms said there is no real need for a new arena and the funding should be designated for public safety instead.

Doms, who also has a Facebook page titled Lost in SPLOST, said it is embarrassing that the city removed $25 million in funding for a new downtown police headquarters when its initial list of projects had to be reduced. Instead, up to $5 million would go toward that facility if the tax revenue exceeds $400 million.

“I think that is a slap in the face of the citizens of Savannah,” he said.

The city doesn’t have a backup plan if the tax extension is rejected, said city spokesman Bret Bell.

The city would likely issue bonds for some of the drainage projects, while funding for other projects would have to be addressed individually, Bell said. Some projects would likely not be addressed for some time, he said.

SAVANNAH SPLOST PROJECTS

Arena - $120 million ($15M from excess over $385M)

Police headquarters: ($5M from excess over $400M)

Fire & emergency services: $7 million

Traffic calming: $550,000

Wireless/fiber infrastructure improvements: $1 million

President/General McIntosh improvements:: $5 million

Public safety radio and infrastructure replacement: $4.5 million

Neighborhood resource center: $7.25 million

Southside park development: $1.5 million

Tompkins Community Center: $1 million

Grant center: $2 million

Athletic field turf: $1.6 million

Savannah Children’s museum: $1.5 million

Pedestrian signage: $500,000

DeRenne right of way acquisition: $11.8 million

Riverwalk extension at Marriott: $1.54 million

Victory Drive improvements: $1 million

Factors Walk Wall Restoration: $600,000

Drainage box rehabilitations: $9.31 million

Placentia drainage basin improvements: $7 million

Bilbo basin improvements: $4.6 million

Neighborhood projects, sidewalks, curb/gutter: $9 million

Hitch Village and surrounding redevelopment sites: $6.75 million

BLOOMINGDALE SPLOST PROJECTS

Total: $3.2 million (Specific amounts for categories not available)

GARDEN CITY SPLOST PROJECTS

Retirement of debt services (City Hall loan): $4.32 million

Re-construction of Chatham Parkway: $2.87 million

Construction of Fire Station #3: $600,000

Purchase of fire truck (tanker): $300,000

Total: $8.1 million

POOLER SPLOST PROJECTS

Police station relocation/renovation: $2 million

Public safety training center: $3.2 million

Fire vehicles: $3.2 million

Football stadium, concessions, parking, locker rooms: $3.1 million

Baseball/softball fields and concessions: $1.4 million

Roadwork and infrastructure: $1.5 million

Pooler Parkway resurfacing: $2.5 million

Total: $16.9 million

PORT WENTWORTH SPLOST PROJECTS

Sewer projects: $3 million

Road projects: $2 million

Recreation: $1 million

Downtown redevelopment: $200,000

Total: $6.2 million

THUNDERBOLT SPLOST PROJECTS

Total: $3.75 million (Specific amounts for categories not available.)

TYBEE ISLAND SPLOST PROJECTS

Public safety equipment & facilities:

Public safety fleet & 911 center upgrades:

Water and sewer line replacements:

Cultural & recreation:

South end drainage upgrades:

Road resurfacing:

Total: $4.2 million

(County list includes $6 million for beach renourishment. Specific amounts for categories not available.)

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The quickest way to sum up this splost is to look at the projects. Almost 1/2 of the tax payers money is going for an arena that is certain to go under utilized and cost more money to maintain and insure than it brings in. How smart/attractive is that? Plus, with 28% living below the poverty level and another 25% one paycheck away from joining the 28%, these unfortunates will be paying for the arena and have no means to ever afford a ticket to an event there. How wise is that? That's SMN and Chamber of Commerce logic for you. Lastly, 15 million for SEDA who never verifies the number of jobs their contracts create equals no accountability with our money. Based on the 28% living below the poverty line and another 25% inches away, one might conclude that SEDA is basically ineffective unless you are a Chamber member who benefits from good ol boy participation in SEDA free money. splost will not pass unless someone manipulates the vote count. John McMasters

Savannah is the perfect mirror of the attitude most of the USA has toward spending, that includes government from federal to local, residents with their " want" and entitlement attitude, and the so called needs for useless projects.
Nobody takes the time to make a solid budget or has a back up- or contingency plan.
Quote City spokes person Bret Bell "The city doesn’t have a backup plan if the tax extension is rejected"- Really????
This is not only unbelievably stupid, but as well incredibly irresponsible towards constituents and taxpayers.
SPLOST would have a chance if items would make sense, if the main part not be only for Minorities( Quote Al Scott: " SPLOST is a good deal for African - Americans) and downtown, hence lots of tourists( projects quoted by Mary Ellen Sprague:" Ellis Square, the Children's Museum Band-Shell Forsyth Park etc.) Don't get me wrong I like Ellis Square, and are happy that the ugly parking garage was replaced, but Savannah has to rethink priorities. According to City Council TV the children's museum is for " Tourist's kids, as kids are not interested in old houses"- this is from the SPLOST TV commercial. So give me a break- and fix the potholes in front of my house-. Before I do not see any day to day improvement on basic services( including crime prevention) all the dream castles for arena, " canal district" ( do not even get me started on that idiocy), and more tourists attractions, with ample waste of money; SPLOST should be voted NO- so leaders start going back to their roots and learn how to budget. Right now seemingly the only action our so called leaders are good at is wasting and dreaming. Planning and a budget?- not so much.

On WW Law and the first black pharmacy in savannah. I respect history but really,,, 3 million, really.

If backroom deals are permitted for the sole purpose of council voting to give a fellow councilperson 50 grand for a flooded crawl space. 5 Years after Ante-Litem had expired. In clear violation of the Sunshine law. I say put that SPLOST where the sun don't shine

the items simply replace tax dollars that would have otherwise been used for many of these expenses. In other words, it is a shell game. Until the city/county show they can manage fiscally responsibly, the SPLOST needs to be what it was intended for - SPECIAL items that benefit the community that are OPTIONAL.

....should the tax extension be rejected" said city spokesman Bret Bell. Really?? Well, at least Mr. Bell admits the City leadership is incompetent.

Let me help you out Mr. Bell with a plan. Cut out the wanton waste of money that clowncil has spent in the past, frivolously. Balance the budget and spend the tax revenue that you already get responsibly. You know, sorta what these clowns were elected to do in the first place.